Winter has arrived in Cleveland

It's a good thing that Amazon liked me enough to ship my boots early! I was a little hesitant of buying boots online, but I think they turned out alright.

So of course I had to take the boots out on a test run. Two shots below from "Little Italy" -- where I currently live. They play italian Christmas music in the streets right now. Think Josh Groban + opera, that is mostly what it sounds like. But I love how all the little shops have all their cute Christmas lights up and window displays. Somehow makes the holidays more bearable.

Next stop: Christmas in Utah.

Jo Comes to Cleveland.

Jo came to visit me this past July. I LOVED having her here. Below are some tidbits from our adventures...

Lanterns at the N.K. Whitney Store in Kirtland, OH.

It's the leaf heart!

Yay macrophotography.

At Kirtland. I love this picture of Jo inside the N.K. Whitney Store.

BEAUTIFUL skies at the Indians game. Cleveland is known for freaky weather and awful sport teams (now that Lebron is gone). It is something that doesn't necessarily break my heart.

On our way to the Cleveland Indians game.

Rockin' out at the Cleveland History of Rock and Roll Museum. It kind of reminds me of the glass pyramids at the Louvre. Not that I've ever been there...

I got to meet the original Randy. He was trying to be all cool and wear converses too... But really, he is just super old.

We found "The Christmas Story" house. Yes. It is in Cleveland. It might just be our one claim to fame.

Enjoying the sites of the falls.

The falls. From the NY side. If I had a passport, you can bet your bottom I would have been viewing them from Canada.

Just getting off the Maid of the Mist. Note the super wet hair.

Many many pictures were taken at the falls. It was so sunny but so windy at the same time!

I made it to Niagra Falls. First time in New York and first time at the falls. It was definitely a "bucket list" moment in my life.

Jo and I at Mentor Headlands.... Cleveland's version of the "beach". Really it's just Lake Erie, but we can pretend that it is something amazing, right?

A Year in Photos

As I recollect on my life this past year, I have come to one conclusion: 2009 was definitely the BIGGEST year of my life. Wow.

January:

I spent the end of 2008 and early 2009 in sunny California with my friend and roommate, Kerianna. I had amazing times with her family and still miss her, as she is on her mission til July 2010.

February:

Along with saying goodbye to Kerianna for her mission, I spent a majority of this month interviewing at graduate schools. For my own sake I am glad that I didn't keep track of how

many flights I was on during all of 2009... Is there such a thing as too much air time? Shown below: One of my favorite shots from Brown University.

March:

Undoubtedly the "BIGGEST" month of the year. Baby Alyssa was born (so cute!), Matt and Deedee were married in the Logan Temple, Mom and Dad officially got divorced and I picked Case Western Reserve as my graduate school! Clearly...not enough pictures to show the fun that occurred this month!

April/May:

A "breather"... I found an apt. to live in my first year in Cleveland and said goodbye to family and friends in Utah. Sold my beloved yellow jeep wrangler for a white toyota corolla. While I graduated in Dec. 2008, I picked up the official "degree" through the right of passage this month too.

June/July:

Made the big move to Cleveland. Started work in the lab under the mentorship of Dr. Jeff Capadona. Learned how to overcome my "fear" of working with animals. Started exploring Cleveland.

August:

Quick trip back out to Utah to see Mom get re-married to Jim! :) Started my official graduate work at Case Western. (I feel so old!)

September:

I became a graduate student! Data included!

October:

Played Mad Scientist and survived through Halloween. Clearly...only cheap grad students use lab gear for their costumes...

November:

Made a trip out to see Dad at his new place in New Hampshire. First time ever visiting New England. All I can say is: "Holy Hills Batman!" Further, I enjoyed my first "concert"...like EVER. Glorious Gary Allan. (and Jack Ingram...and Eli Young Band)... :o)

December:

WICKED!!!! I finally saw a musical LIVE! It was amazing. Cleveland actually has art. And real night life. And then of course, I made it full circle ending up back in Utah to spend time with friends and family.

....Here's hoping for a less stressful year in 2010!